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Leap Frog products have always been a part of our family, beginning with our first copy of The Letter Factory that we watched over and over with our first son eight years ago. I say first copy because it became so well worn that we actually had to purchase a new copy to replace it! So when I heard about the new SmartyAnts curriculum that’s been developed by the founders of Leap Frog, I was very interested in giving it a try.
The SmartyAnts system consists of an interactive website and a companion SmartyAnts Phonics Reading Pup that reinforces the lessons taught on the website in a fun and engaging way minus the computer, allowing children to practice the reading skills they’re currently working on any time, any place.
We received the white SmartyAnts Phonics Reading Pup to give the system a try, and my four-year-old daughter immediately fell in love with him. He’s very fluffy and cute and surprisingly cuddly and soft for something that has mechanical parts housed inside. He comes ready for fun, preloaded with 10 songs designed to help teach your child the alphabet, letter sounds, phonics, word building, and rhyming.
I decided to let my daughter just get to know the Reading Pup for several days before introducing the online aspect, and he quickly became a constant companion. But when I showed her the SmartyAnts website and how it complements the dog, that was when the real fun began. I’m kind of embarrassed to admit it, but the site showed me just how much I was underestimating what my daughter was capable of. I was under the impression that she was still working on her lower case letters and sounds, but she breezed through those right into the four-letter words level!
The SmartyAnts website is very cute and really draws your child in with activities that seem like play on the surface but are really teaching them valuable skills all the while. My daughter just devoured all of this and asks to play frequently. And the best part is that you can download new files to the Reading Pup that reinforce these skills during free time.
The SmartyAnts Phonics Reading Pup retails for just $29.99, and I fully expect him to be one of the hottest toys this holiday season. Included in the box is one SmartyAnts Phonics Reading Pup (choose husky or white pup), USB cable, parent guide, and one-month membership to SmartyAnts Web site.
One lucky Deal Seeking Mom reader will win a Phonics Reading Pup with a 1-year subscription to SmartyAnts.com!
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If you are reading this in your email or feed reader, please CLICK HERE to visit the original blog post to enter. Email entries will not be counted.
Want to win a one year subscription to Smarty Ants, as well as a Phonics Reading Pup? Just leave me a comment here, before 9pm on November 22nd, telling me about the fun ways you and your little ones have discovered learning how to read.
Prize:
(1) SmartyAnts.com Phonics Reading Pup and 1-year Subscription
This giveaway ends at 9:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, 11/22 and is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older. I’ll use Comment Contest to select the winning comment. Winner will be notified by email and listed on my Giveaway Winners page. Winners must respond within 48 hours of notification to claim their prize. Good luck!
While you’re in a contest entering mood, don’t forget to check out the Giveaway Gathering for a variety of contests being hosted on Deal Seeking Mom readers’ blogs!
Disclosure: I received a Phonics Reading Pup and a one-year subscription to SmartyAnts.com to review for this post.
Erin Kinnett
My 4 year old and I have fun sounding out words on road signs! There’s nothing better than her sounding it out perfectly and then saying the full word! Complete pride!!!
mila
books!
Jillian.K
With my daughter we read together and on easy words we spell them out and she repeats me and spells them back until she can do it alone.
Gina H.
My oldest son loved flash cards….we would make our own!
aparna
My daughter just started showing interest in reading and this will be perfect for her. Right now we are using starfall.com for learning to read.
terri
We always did storytime a part of the bedtime routine.
DanielleCorrelle
We read every day, and my girls (3 and 4) love to “read” to me. We practice reading/writing letters and small words on our chalk or dry erase boards. We lovvvvve Leapfrog products and the TAG readers have been amazing, I would love to try this pup out!
Christine Freeland
I read to my grandson everyday. Reading with my children and other grandson has really made a difference in their love of learning.
Lina
He basically learned to read at pre-school and he learned to love to read anything & everything.
Stephanie Moore
My husband reads to my sons every night. Now my eight year old has turned it around and he reads too at night. Its a good way for them to all bond together.
Paula N
From a very young age my boys would sit at the computer and listen to and follow along with the stories on starfall.org. It is a great website and a fun way to get kids interested in reading. We read here all the time, we make it a daily cuddle time.
marcella
I have a 3 yr. old and a 19th month old and they both love books. This would go great with their collection!
Mrs. Schmid
We encourage a love of reading at our house by going to the library often and rewarding our kiddos for their good deeds with a trip to the book store to pick out a book of their choosing.
Tabathia B
I love to read with all my kids everynight and I read to my little every day
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Cris
Reading to and with my child is all we have really explored so far. I am sure my 4 year old would be like yours, vastly underestimated.
Amanda Starr
Mostly from my husband and I reading to our daughter. Also her reading beginner books that have dogs in them. She would flip out if she saw these cute little pups!
Karen S
My daughter Lauren is learning to read, and loves stuffed animals, so this sounds like a perfect fit! I wouldn’t be surprised if this IS a hot item for Christmas! Would love to have one for my girl!
Katy P
My daughter hasn’t learned to read yet- but she loves to repeat as I read along to her in books.
Victoria Heydenreich
My kids and I always read together in bed at night before they go to sleep. All my kids love to read!!!
Kelly T
My daughter, 19 months, and my stepson, 9 years, have both enjoyed reading. We have made sure that fun picture books have been part of their routine since they were very young, and I have definitely seen how this exposure to books has helped them to develop their language skills earlier and more quickly than other children their age. This product looks fabulous – I adore LeapFrog, from a parent’s perspective AND a teacher’s!
Northwoodsmom
My 3-year-old and 5-year-old would be happy with any Leapfrog item, but this learning pup sounds awesome. My little guy wants a dog so badly, but we just can’t afford all the extras so this would be a good alternative until we can get the real thing, plus it would help with is reading skills.
Denise Wilson
We read a lot of books, play with alphabet blocks, etc.
This looks like something my son would love!
Chelsei Ryan
My little one just turned two we love to have story times throughout the day and have just started putting letters together to make two and three letters words. She already knows her Alphabet very well. This would be an awesome tool to inspire her continued learning.
[email protected]
camie
my son and I used magnetic letters to start out with his big interest in the alphabet and reading.
Laura Steiner
My husband and I have read to our children since the day that they were born (and before)!
My son is now 5 and started kindergarten this year. He is currently doing advanced reading work on a first grade level and I DO believe it’s because we have read to him all his life.
WE LOVE BOOKS!
nikki wilson
My four year old little boy would adore this. He always wants to play on the computer like his sisters. We go to the library, read book at home and watch the letter factory. My son is constantly asking me to spell things and I do. He picks up on a lot of things that way.
Katie
I have four children and I am a homescchool mom. This little dog would such a blessing and welcomed addition to our curriculum! Thank you for the opportunity to win!
Christina Burrell
My son and I have a game when we are stopped at the stop signs/lights where he spells all the signs he sees and then learns what the words mean.
Amanda
My son is Autistic and loves electronic interaction. I made power points with the letters of his name, etc. on them so he could flip through the letters, hear the sounds each letter makes as well as hear the final word, and still get to play on the computer!
Heather
We have tried a few different things. Basic kid’s videos from the library and some dry erase letter books. The kids love to play with sidewalk chalk and “practice” their letters and sounds. We would love this dog and the phonics stuff. Sounds great!